HAILE GEBRSELASSIE INVITED TO RETURN TO MANCHESTER FOR THE NATION’S FAVOURITE 10K

Organisers of the Bupa Great Run Series, Nova International, are hoping that Haile Gebrselassie, having yesterday revoked his decision to retire, will return to Manchester next May in a bid for a third consecutive Bupa Great Manchester Run crown.

Dave Newton, managing director of Nova said, "We were as shocked as everyone else when Haile made his announcement last week, but running is in his blood and we are delighted that he will continue his incredible career. “Haile will be at the Great Ethiopian Run this weekend and we will be handing over a letter inviting him to join us in Manchester next year.” The IAAF gold label event which, since it was first staged in 2003, has blossomed into Britain's premier 10k road race. The 2011 event will accept a record 38,000 runners on the streets of Manchester and will enjoy live television coverage on the BBC. Whilst the cream of the world's distance athletes including Gebrselassie, Paul Tergat, Sonia O'Sullivan, Zersenay Tadesse and Jo Pavey have taken the honours over the years, the Bupa Great Manchester Run has also become a hugely important fundraising event for charities, with millions raised by participants for good causes. With personalities such as actor Gemma Atkinson, and musician Peter Hook, representing them at the official launch, the impact the Bupa Great Manchester Run has for charities was summarised by head of sporting events at the Christie charity, Jenny Haskey, who said; “The Bupa Great Manchester Run is a massive and iconic event - a must-do on the Manchester calendar. The money that we raise from the event is unprecedented – it really does help make a difference to cancer patients and save lives. “A record 4,000 people took part for us in the 2010 race raising half a million pounds, which is just outstanding” Also present at the official launch was actor Dean Andrews, who plays DS Ray Carling in the popular Ashes to Ashes series. He intends to make his Bupa Great Manchester Run debut whilst raising funds for Bupa’s nominated charity for 2011, the Alzheimer’s Society. The Bupa Great Manchester Run continues to enjoy its partnership with Manchester City Council whose Leader, Sir Richard Leese, is planning to take part for the third time this year alongside many of his colleagues. Entries for the 2011 event are available online at www.greatrun.org and the first 28,000 places will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. All remaining applications will then go into a ballot that will be drawn before the end of this year. ends Editors Notes Nova International The Bupa Great Manchester Run is brought to you by a partnership between Manchester City Council and event organisers Nova International and is sponsored by Bupa. Nova International, headed by Olympic Medallist Brendan Foster is one of the UK’s leading event management and sports marketing agencies. The company’s current brand portfolio also includes some of the biggest running events in the world all based on the Bupa Great North Run, the world’s biggest half marathon with over 54,000 entries. Nova International was established in 1988 and has a strong sporting pedigree. Based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Nova has established itself as a market leader in the world of sports marketing and event management. For more information please visit www.greatrun.org. Bupa Bupa’s purpose is to help people lead longer, healthier, happier lives. A leading international healthcare provider, we offer personal and company health insurance, run care homes for older people and hospitals, and provide workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching, and home healthcare. With no shareholders, we invest our profits to provide more and better healthcare. We are committed to making quality, patient-centred, affordable healthcare more accessible in the areas of wellness, chronic disease management and ageing. Employing over 50,000 people, Bupa has operations around the world, principally in the UK, Australia, Spain, New Zealand and the USA, as well as Hong Kong, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, India, China and across Latin America. For more information, visit www.bupa.com

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